Professional Scrum Master Exam at a Glance

What changed for Professional Scrum Master in 2026

• Oct 25, 2026: Delivery changed to Online, anywhere in the world (previously Online worldwide).^[7]
• Oct 25, 2026: Eligibility changed to Training not required (previously Training attendance not mandatory).^[2]
• Oct 25, 2026: Testing window changed to On demand; passwords do not expire (previously On demand; no appointment required).^[8]
• Oct 25, 2026: Retake policy changed to Unlimited attempts; no waiting period; new password per attempt (previously Unlimited attempts; no waiting period).^[5]
• Oct 25, 2026: Retake fee (PSM I) changed to $200 USD per retake (previously $200 USD per standard paid retake).^[2]
• Oct 25, 2026: Retake fee (PSM II) changed to $250 USD per retake (previously $250 USD per standard paid retake).^[3]
• Oct 25, 2026: Retake fee (PSM III) changed to $500 USD per retake (previously $500 USD per standard paid retake).^[4]
• Oct 25, 2026: Time limit (PSM III) changed to 150 minutes (2.5 hours) (previously 150 minutes).^[4]
• Oct 25, 2026: Score release (PSM III) changed to About 4 weeks (previously Approximately 4 weeks).^[4]
• Oct 25, 2026: Retake fee (PSM-AI Essentials) changed to $200 USD per retake (previously $200 USD per standard paid retake).^[1]

What the Professional Scrum Master is and how it works

According to Scrum.org, “Number of Questions: 30 (partial credit provided on some questions)”^[3]

Scrum.org runs the Professional Scrum Master (PSM) certifications. Passing shows that you understand the Scrum framework and the Scrum Master accountability. There are no testing centres. You take every assessment online, from anywhere in the world. Your password does not expire, so you do not book a date or time. You start whenever you are ready.

• PSM I: 80 questions, 60 minutes, 85% to pass, $200 USD per attempt.
• PSM II: 30 questions, with partial credit on some of them, 90 minutes, 85% to pass, $250 USD per attempt.
• PSM III: 24 essay questions, 150 minutes, scored Pass/Did Not Pass. Grading takes about 4 weeks, and the result is emailed to you. $500 USD per attempt.
• PSM-AI Essentials: 40 questions, 60 minutes, 85% to pass, $200 USD per attempt.

You do not need to take a course before you sit an assessment, although Scrum.org strongly recommends one. You can take an assessment as many times as you like, with no waiting period between attempts. Each attempt needs a new password, and you pay the full fee again. Scrum.org certificates last for life and never need renewing.

Fees and rules can change, so check the assessment page on scrum.org before you buy a password. The practice questions on this site are written with AI tools. They are not real exam questions.

Worked examples: how to reason through Professional Scrum Master questions

These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.

Example 1

Question: A Scrum Master is coaching a newly formed Scrum Team. Which leadership approach is most appropriate initially?

1. Provide more direct guidance on Scrum practices and gradually shift to a coaching stance as the team matures
2. Immediately adopt a hands-off approach and let the team figure things out
3. Manage the team's daily work to ensure they follow Scrum correctly
4. Delegate all Scrum facilitation to the most experienced developer

Answer: A. Provide more direct guidance on Scrum practices and gradually shift to a coaching stance as the team matures

Explanation:

A is correct. A new team often does not yet understand Scrum well enough to manage itself. At first, the Scrum Master teaches and gives clearer guidance on Scrum practices. As the team grows more capable, the Scrum Master moves toward coaching. The goal is always a team that manages itself.

B is wrong because stepping back completely leaves a new team without the understanding it needs. The Scrum Master is still accountable for the team's effectiveness. C is wrong because directing the team's daily work undermines self-management, and the Developers own their own work. D is wrong because the Scrum Master cannot hand their accountability to a Developer.

Rule to remember: servant leadership adjusts its stance to how mature the team is. It never turns into command and control.

Example 2

Question: What is the primary purpose of the Sprint Retrospective in the context of Scrum's empirical pillars?

1. To inspect the Increment for quality defects
2. To adapt the team's processes and practices for future Sprints
3. To plan the work for the next Sprint
4. To demonstrate working software to stakeholders

Answer: B. To adapt the team's processes and practices for future Sprints

Explanation:

B is correct. In the Sprint Retrospective, the Scrum Team looks at how the last Sprint went: individuals, interactions, processes, tools and the Definition of Done. It then decides what to change to improve quality and effectiveness. That makes it mainly an adaptation event for the team's way of working.

A is wrong because the Definition of Done and the Sprint Review are where the Increment's quality is checked. C is wrong because the team plans the next Sprint's work in Sprint Planning. D is wrong because the Sprint Review is where stakeholders see the Increment. Stakeholders do not usually attend the Retrospective.

Rule to remember: the Sprint Review looks at the product, and the Sprint Retrospective looks at how the team works.

Example 3

Question: A Scrum Team is holding its Sprint Retrospective. The discussion becomes dominated by a few vocal members, while others remain silent. The team has not generated many actionable improvement items in the past few Sprints. Which facilitation technique would be most appropriate for the Scrum Master to introduce?

1. Ask each individual to directly call out another team member who has not spoken yet.
2. End the meeting early and talk to the silent members individually to gather their feedback privately.
3. Implement a structured format, such as asking everyone to write their thoughts on sticky notes for key topics (e.g., 'What went well?', 'What could be improved?') and then discuss them as a group.
4. As the facilitator, propose a list of improvements based on your own observations of the Sprint and ask the team to vote on them.

Answer: C. Implement a structured format, such as asking everyone to write their thoughts on sticky notes for key topics (e.g., 'What went well?', 'What could be improved?') and then discuss them as a group.

Explanation:

C is correct. If a few people dominate the discussion, a structured format helps. Everyone writes their ideas silently before the group talks, so quieter members can contribute on equal terms. This leads to more varied and useful improvement ideas, and the team still owns them.

A is wrong because putting people on the spot in front of others damages psychological safety. B is wrong because ending the event early defeats its purpose. It also moves the conversation away from the team as a whole. D is wrong because when the Scrum Master supplies the improvements, the team stops owning them. Members can vote without ever reflecting.

Rule to remember: the Scrum Master runs a format that lets everyone take part. The team decides the content and the actions.

How to use these practice tests

Start by reading the Scrum Guide on scrumguides.org slowly, from start to finish. Most PSM I questions test its exact wording on accountabilities, events, artifacts and commitments.

Next, take a mixed set such as Professional Scrum Master (PSM I) without notes. Write down every topic you get wrong. Then work through the topic sets that match your weak spots:

• Scrum Theory and Empiricism
• Scrum Team Accountabilities
• Scrum Events and Activities
• Scrum Artifacts and Commitments
• Coaching and Facilitation
• Scrum Master as Leader

For each question you miss, find the sentence in the Scrum Guide that settles it. Remembering the reason works better than remembering the answer. Also try the free open assessments on scrum.org to get used to the official question style.

Once your scores on mixed sets are steady and above 85%, practise at real exam pace. PSM I gives you 80 questions in 60 minutes. Your password does not expire, so buy it only when you are consistently ready. Take the assessment somewhere quiet, with a stable internet connection.

Sources & last verified

1. Scrum.org — number of questions, time limit, passing score, exam fee (official source). “Number of Questions: 40” Verified Oct 25, 2026 · source checked Oct 20, 2026.
2. Scrum.org — number of questions, time limit, passing score, exam fee (official source). “Number of Questions: 80” Verified Oct 25, 2026.
3. Scrum.org — number of questions, time limit, passing score, exam fee (official source). “Number of Questions: 30 (partial credit provided on some questions)” Verified Oct 25, 2026 · source checked Oct 20, 2026.
4. Scrum.org — number of questions, time limit, passing score, exam fee (official source). “Number of Questions: 24” Verified Oct 25, 2026.
5. Scrum.org — retake policy (official source). “There is no limit to how many times you can take an assessment, nor is there a period of time you must wait before making…” Verified Oct 25, 2026.
6. Scrum.org — validity, renewal (official source). “Scrum.org certificates are lifelong and do not require any additional payments or renewals.” Verified Oct 25, 2026.
7. Scrum.org — delivery (official source). “We do not have dedicated testing centers, so our Professional-Level Assessments for certification can be taken online anywhere in the world.” Verified Oct 25, 2026.
8. Scrum.org — testing window (official source). “Scrum.org Professional-Level Assessment passwords no longer have expiration dates, and you can start whenever you wish. You will not need to schedule a date or…” Verified Oct 25, 2026.

How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.